Hiking In The Majestic Jonkershoek Nature Reserve

The majestic Jonkershoek Nature Reserve, nestled in the picturesque Cape Winelands, offers hiking and biking trails with breathtaking scenery. The Jonkershoek mountains form part of the larger Boland Mountain range (part of the greater Hottenetots Holland Nature Reserve). It’s located between Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. Both are outstanding wine regions. If you plan to visit for some award-winning wines and see their sprawling vineyards surrounded by more stunning mountains, make sure to add time for hiking the glorious trails of Jonkershoek into your plans.

Hiking In Jonkershoek

The Jonkershoek Nature Reserve is large, over 37 square miles (9,800 hectares). It’s also stunning, known for its picturesque mountain landscape and panoramic views, its diverse flora and fauna, and large network of trails for hikers, runners, and bicyclists.

There are several short walks for casual hikers. There are also more challenging hikes that range between 3 and 11 miles (5 to 18 km). With 18 official trails (and some non-official ones) and over 29 miles (48 km) of single track trail, there are a lot of outstanding options here.

You can find rare and/or endemic species here like the protea repens and mountain cypress as you hike along mountain paths and past waterfalls and streams. There are also honey badger, baboon, klipspringer, and even leopards. Most of these are shy, however, so rarely seen.

Popular Hikes In Jonkershoek

One of its most popular hikes is Tweede Watervale, or the Waterfall Hike. This hike is relatively easy, with minimal elevation.

It is 4 miles (6.4 km) out and back, with two waterfalls, as well as some pools and streams to stop at, and dip in, along the way (bring your suit). While this hike is mostly flat, there is a section before the second waterfall where you need to use a chain to pull yourself up.

There have been serious accidents here, so although this trail is rated easy, it is not danger-free. Sometimes the second waterfall is even closed for safety reasons. If this hike is in your plans, it’s best to contact the reserve office in advance to ensure it is open.

Sosyskloof is a 3 to 4 mile (5-7 km) hike, also considered easy. It heads up the western slopes of Swartboskloof, passing through lush forest before winding back to the start. There is a longer route that takes you to a lookout point.

The Panorama Route is a moderately challenging 10.5 mile (17 km) loop. It winds across the Dwarsberg plateau to Kurktrekkernek, with an optional detour to the summit of Guardian Peak 4,025’ (1227m), which offers panoramic views of the Cape Peninsula. The return trail passes by some small waterfalls which are part of the Waterfall Hike above.

Swartsboskloof is an 11 mile (18 km) moderately challenging hike with amazing views. It starts out steep, heading up Swartboskloof to 2,952’ (900 m) in less than 3 miles (4.5 km). It’s fairly level after that, taking you to the top of Kurktrekkernek. From there, you descend to a beautiful waterfall before returning to the start.

Saddle (Saaltjie)

I hiked Saaltjie, which means Saddle. This moderately challenging trail is a 9 mile (14.48 km) loop with 2,467’ (751.9 m) of elevation gain (according to AllTrails). It’s one of the unofficial trails here.

Much of this trail crosses, and sometimes merges with, bike trails, so you need to carefully watch for bikes racing down the trail.

Luckily, there were very few people here the day I hiked. I only had to dodge two bikes. Possibly because it was a week day.

Because Saaltjie is not an official trail, it (unfortunately) was not clearly marked near the top. I made it all the way up to the saddle, which was beautiful, but never found the wooden viewing deck on Saaltjie.

I was only mildly disappointed as I still had a spectacular (although cloudy) view and enjoyed exploring the lunar-like terrain of the saddle and the incredible views of the valley below.

This trail is on AllTrails, but I did not download it as hikers on the AllTrails site said it is not accurate. This, plus the fact that the woman at the gate seemed confident that the trail was marked well, I thought I could do it in my own.

On the way back down, however, the trail markings were even more sparse, and there was no visual marker of the (tiny) entrance in the vast reserve, so I quickly became turned around.

After wandering for a bit, I finally realized I was lost in the vast network of trails. I admit that I did panic a bit, but then opened maps.com, found the coffee shop near the entrance and tracked towards that.

While this map was also incorrect (of course!) as I hit several dead ends and had to walk down steep bike paths, at least it got me moving in the right direction. I eventually made it out. Whew!

Permits for Hiking Jonkershoek

A permit is required for hiking or biking in Jonkershoek. They can be pre-purchased on the MTO website at mtotrails.com, or at the MTO gate the day of your visit (credit card and Apple Pay only). Note that only a select number of people are allowed on each trail each day, so it’s best to pre-purchase your permit, or arrive early.

Note that there is also a cutoff time to start on each trail. This is set to make sure you have enough time to finish the hike. See each trail link above for details.

How To Get To Jonkershoek

The MTO gate for Jonkershoek is located on the Jonkershoek Valley Road, about a 15-minute drive east of central Stellenbosch.

Limited parking is available near the MTO gate. If you self-drive, it’s best to arrive early to make sure you get a parking spot. You can also take an Uber, which is what I did. Mine was less than $7 each way Stellenbosch.

Tips For Hiking Jonkershoek

Note that because these hikes are remote, and the area is very large, it’s best not to go hiking in Jonkershoek alone (unfortunately, I don’t listen to my own advice). I suggest downloading maps.me in advance and dropping a pin at the MTO entrance gate, or the Balance Coffee Roastery in case any signs are missing.

Look at the weather in advance and dress appropriately. Also, understand that the weather can change quickly. Especially at elevation. My hike was sunny until I reached the saddle, where it was cloudy and cool. When I was back down, it was sunny and warm again. Because of this, it’s a good idea to bring a rain jacket.

Wear good hiking shoes, and bring plenty of water and snacks for the hike. If you take a hike by a waterfall of stream bring your suit with you. As it is possible to see baboons on the trail, always keep a close eye on your belongings. Especially if you have any food.

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At the end of your hike, near the MTO gate, there is a coffee shop, Balance Coffee Roastery, which offers snack items and restrooms. There is also Jonkershoek Valley Cottage, which has 3 bedrooms and 1 bath that you can rent for a longer stay. The cottage has a two night minimum.

Protea Repens above left and some unusual flowers I had never seen before from at the summit.

Lunch At Lanzerac

After hiking (or biking) in Jonkershoek, I recommend stopping at the Lanzerac Wine Estate Deli. My Airbnb recommended this and it was the perfect stop on the way back to Stellenbosch. It’s only a 10-minute drive from Jonkershoek.

I was concerned about eating here after hiking for 4 hours, but saw other hikers and bikers here doing the same. It was very casual and cozy.

They have a tasting room and a variety of lunch options including an all day breakfast, light meals, salads, boards, and gourmet sandwiches.

Want More Of Cape Town?

Some of my other favorite spots in and around Cape Town include:

• South Africa Travel Guide
• Top 25 Things To Do In Cape Town | Beaches, Mountains, Wine, & Adventure
• South Africa Wine Country | Constantia, Stellenbosch, Paarl, and Franschhoek
• Discovering Llandudno Beach | A Hidden Gem In Cape Town
• Hiking Lions Head | A Scenic Ascent To A Breathtaking Summit
• Secret Sunset Rock | Cape Town’s Hidden Gem For Spectacular Sunsets
• Exploring The Woodstock Street Art Scene In Cape Town
• Cool Creative Places | The Old Biscuit Mill in Woodstock
• Inside Robben Island Museum | Walk In Nelson Mandela’s Footsteps
• Penguins, Cliffs, & Coastal Views | Tour To The Cape Of Good Hope
• Castle Of Good Hope Museum | Unveiling Cape Town’s Rich History
• Skydiving In Cape Town | Soaring Above The Cape

Julie